Beating
to Death
B'tselem
Following are testimonies taken by B'Tselem in the last few weeks,
concerning incidents in which Border Police officers and IDF soldiers
beat and abused Palestinans in Hebron. In one of the incidents,
Boder Police officers beat an 18 year old to death. Amongh the
Palestinians beaten were three minors: Two aged 15 and one aged
17.
Nablus:
'Mountain of Fire' Under Total Lockdown
Palestine Chronicle, January 23, 2003
(PalestineChronicle.com) - Not content with the injuries they
inflicted yesterday, the Israelis have today become even more
violent, and the following incidents occurred just in our small
area.
Settlements
receive extra share of state budget - report
Globes, January 23, 2003
Peace Now: Each settler in the territories received NIS 8,650
more in budget transfers than other Israelis in 2001. Peace Now
claims that NIS 2.2 billion of the state budget was transferred
to the settlements in 2001.
Peace
Now: NIS 2.2 billion went to settlements in 2001
Ha'aretz, January 23, 2003
Some NIS 2.2 billion of state funds were transferred to West Bank
settlements in 2001, according to a Peace Now study.
IOF
Invade Khan Younis, Arrest 13 Palestinians
Palestine Media Center, January 23, 2003
Israel Admits to Detaining PFLP Leader’s Wife -- At least
20 Israeli tanks, accompanied by bulldozers, carried out an incursion
into Khan Younis early on Thursday in the south of the Gaza Strip,
Palestinian security sources said.
Israel
arrests wife of PFLP leader; At least 13 Palestinians arrested
Al-Bawaba, January 23, 2003
Sources in the Israeli Shin Bet security service confirmed Wednesday
evening that it has arrested Abla Saadat, the wife of Ahmad Saadat,
the head of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.
Reporters
Without Borders to call on candidates to pledge support for media
Reporters Without Borders, January 22, 2003
New attacks on press freedom as election approaches -- Reporters
Without Borders today repeated its concern about press freedom
in Israel after the beating of two Palestinian photographers working
for international news agencies and the official questioning of
a journalist about a report concerning alleged corruption by Prime
Minister Ariel Sharon.
Israel
prevents from more than 800 Gazans to perform pilgrimage
Al-Bawaba, January 23, 2003
The Israeli occupying forces have prevented more than 800 Palestinian
pilgrims from the Gaza Strip from traveling through the Rafah
Terminal at the Palestinian-Egyptian border.
Weekly
Review of the Arab Press in Israel, 8 - 20 January, 2003
Arab Association for Human Rights
"A new survey that was conducted at Ben-Gurion University in the
South reveals that 71% of the Bedouin citizens in the south suffer
from hunger." --- Demolition of More Houses / A New Bedouin Neighborhood
/ The High Court Decision: Columnists' Review
Hamas
Founder Opposes Unilateral Cease-fire
Ledger-Inquirer, January 23, 2003
GAZA - Hamas founder Sheikh Ahmed Yassin said on Thursday his
Islamic militant group would not accept a cease-fire to end nearly
28 months of conflict until Israel stops "killings and assaults"
of Palestinian civilians.
Background:
Fatah, Hamas send top representatives to Cairo to work out strategy
Ha'aretz, January 23, 2003
A Palestinian conference now slated to open Friday in Cairo will
bring together official representatives of all of the Palestinian
political factions for the first time.
Hear
Palestine, January 23, 2003
NEWS: Hebron: Occupation Soldiers Torture Youth to Death / Tulkarem:
Man Dies at Military Roadblock Prevented from Reaching Hospital
/ Gaza Strip: Wide-Scale Campaign of Demolition, Confiscation
and Settlement Activities / Bethlehem: Occupation Demolishes 3
Homes and Farm / Nablus: Curfew and Arrests for 5th Day Running
/ Qalqilya: Military Invasion and Curfew; Ongoing Bulldozing Activities
of Agricultural Land / Jenin: 15 Dunums of Land Confiscated through
Military Order / Al-Bireh: Occupation Escalates Brutality against
Residents FEATURES: Residents of Nazlat Issa Fear
Forced Transfer / Samer al-Sharif: A Story from the Heart of Death
/ Nablus: When Cameras Witness Israeli Oppression
Freefalling
Labor down to 18 seats
Ha'aretz, January 23, 2003
With less than a week to go before the elections, Labor is a dangerous
freefall. For the first time in the campaign, the largest party
in the 15th Knesset could find itself with less than 19 seats
in the 16th, according to the latest Ha'aretz/Dialogue poll.
Palestinian
minister slams Red Cross, Israel on prisoner treatment
Jerusalem Post, January 23, 2003
The Palestinian Authority's Minister for Prisoners Affairs, Hisham
Abdel Razek, warned today that Israel could exploit a war against
Iraq to deport some 8,000 Palestinian prisoners and step up military
actions in the territories.
Israeli
Forces Beat AFP, AP Photographers in Nablus
Palestine Chronicle, January 23, 2003
NABLUS, West Bank - Israeli border police beat two Palestinian
photographers for international news agencies as they tried to
photograph Israeli forces driving with two youths clinging to
the hood of their jeep in the West Bank city of Nablus on Tuesday,
January 21.
Security
Forces Destroyed the Nazlat 'Issa Market Harming the Livelihood
of Hundreds of Families
B'tselem
Yesterday, Tuesday, 21 January 2003, Israeli security forces destroyed
dozens of structures in the Nazlat 'Issa Market. Nazlat Issa is
a Palestinian village located in the Tulkarm district in the West
Bank.
Non-Aligned
Movement urged to implement practical measures
Inter-Press Service, January 23, 2003
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan. 22 (IPS) - Palestine has urged the Non-Aligned
Movement (NAM) member countries to implement practical measures
to address the Palestinian issue, including breaking off diplomatic
ties with Israel.
Israel
Spends $500 Million on Settlers, Releases Palestinian Child
Islam Online, January 23, 2003
Settlements received on average twice as much public support for
housing projects as communities in Israel -- OCCUPIED JERUSALEM,
January 23 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) – Israel, which
released an eight-year-old Palestinian child who planned to “attack”
an illegal settlement last year, has invested almost 500 million
dollars in Jewish settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories
in 2001, according to the anti-settlement group Peace Now.
Activist
detained by Israelis on her way to World Social Forum in Brazil
Palestine Monitor, January 23, 2003
In a move likely to further enrage a Palestinian population living
under Israeli siege and curfew, the Israeli military yesterday
confirmed that it had arrested the wife of Palestinian activist
Ahmad Saadat, currently being held under joint US and British
supervision in a prison in Jericho.
People
and Politics: Hold off with the laurel leaves
Ha'aretz, January 23, 2003
As of last night, the Government Coordinator in the Territories
had yet to hand over the travel authorizations the Palestinians
asked for two weeks ago. -- A group of Israelis and Palestinians
who signed the declaration of principles drafted by Sari Nusseibeh
and Ami Ayalon was supposed to leave for Athens tomorrow morning.
Occupation
Chronicle Events in Palestine, January 23, 2003
Palestine Media Center, January 23, 2003
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) invaded Khan Younis in the Gaza
Strip and detained 13 citizens. IOF also raided Bethlehem and
demolished two workshops while other troops invaded Tulkarem in
the northern West Bank.
Opening
of intra-Palestinian talks in Cairo delayed to Friday
Al-Bawaba, January 23, 2003
A meeting between Palestinian factions in Egypt to discuss a proposal
to stop attacks on Israel was delayed again on Thursday to await
the arrival of some delegates, and is likely to go ahead on Friday.
Settlements:
Security areas in favor of commitment to refrain from construction
Alternative Information Center, January 23, 2003
Some of the settlements are unwilling to sign the document. --
Leaders of all settlements in The West Bank are required to sign
a commitment that they will not use the new security zones to
be built around settlements for building and construction.
URGENT
Message to all British supporters of the ISM
International Solidarity Movement, January 23, 2003
On Tuesday 21 January, Anne Gwynne, a 65 year old British humanitarian
worker in Nablus saw two Palestinian photographers being beaten
and kicked by Israeli soldiers. When she went to their assistance
and tried to persuade the soldiers to cease their violence they
began to kick her and hit her in the back with their rifle butts.
Palestinian
dialogue in Cairo includes Palestinian General Command, al- Saeqa
Arabic News, January 23, 2003
The two delegations of the People's Command for the liberation
of Palestine- General Command, and al-Saeqa arrive in Cairo today
to attend the Palestinian national dialogue conference which aims
at drawing a united program for national action.
One
Palestinian killed, houses demolishes
Arabic News, January 23, 2003
The Palestinian Youth Ahmad Saqer died of wounds he had in his
stomach when the Israeli forces opened fire at him at Askar camp
near Nablus. Another Palestinian was wounded by the Israeli bullets
yesterday morning in Rafah.
China,
Israel sign a trade agreement
Arabic News, January 23, 2003
Israel and China yesterday signed an agreement on importing and
exporting fruits and vegetables and agricultural seeds between
the two countries.
Palestinian
groups gather in Cairo
BBC, January 23, 2003
A broad range of Palestinian factions are gathering in the Egyptian
capital, Cairo, for landmark talks on ending attacks against Israel.
Joint
Israeli, Palestinian agricultural conference in Turkey
Globes, January 23, 2003
The heads of Israeli farmers organizations held a joint conference
with their Palestinian counterparts in Anatalya in Turkey.
Israel
destroys houses built without approval
The Argus, January 23, 2003
Structures may have been used as refuge for two militants who
attacked settlement -- JERUSALEM -- Israeli army bulldozers demolished
three Palestinian houses and two shacks Wednesday near a Jewish
settlement in the southern West Bank, Palestinians said.
Islamic
Jihad man convicted of deaths of 21Israelis
Ha'aretz, January 23, 2003
Haifa District Court on Thursday convicted Tabeth Mardawi, a senior
Islamic Jihad militant, after he admitted to being responsible
for the deaths of 21 Israelis and for wounding hundreds more,
Army Radio reported.
Loan
leak source Glatt-Berkovich acted for 'public right to know'
Ha'aretz, January 23, 2003
Lawyers for the senior Tel Aviv prosecutor who leaked details
of a police investigation into a loan made to the prime minister's
family to Ha'aretz crime reporter Baruch Kra said Thursday that
Liora Glatt-Berkovich worried about the investigation's slow pace
of progress and feared it would not be completed as necessary.
Ha'aretz
survey: 16% of voters undecided
Ha'aretz, January 23, 2003
Five days before the elections, a Ha'aretz/Dialogue poll Wednesday
indicated that 16 percent of the voters have not yet decided which
party to vote for in next week's elections, and that Likud is
winning more seats as Labor scores fewer.
Kern:
opposition is using loan for political purposes
Ha'aretz, January 23, 2003
JOHANNESBURG - South African-based businessman Cyril Kern, whom
the Israeli Justice Ministry seeks to question in connection with
his $1.5 million loan to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's sons, insists
he has been exploited for political motives, and accuses "the
opposition party in Israel" of using him in a bid to influence
the elections.
AG
defends decision to probe reporter
Ha'aretz, January 23, 2003
Attorney general Elyakim Rubinstein hastily convened a press conference
yesterday to rebuff vehement criticism of his handling of the
leaked document to Ha'aretz reporter Baruch Kra about Cyril Kern's
loan to the Sharon family, and particularly why he authorized
the police to investigate whether Kra had obstructed justice.
Israeli
team due in South Africa in early February for Kern probe
Ha'aretz, January 23, 2003
JOHANNESBURG - An Israeli team that will travel to South Africa
in connection with the probe of businessman Cyril Kern, over his
$1.5-million loan to Gilad Sharon, has indicated that it plans
to arrive here in the first week of February, South African officials
confirmed yesterday.
Analysis:
Kern affidavit leaves source of money clouded in mystery
Ha'aretz, January 23, 2003
Cyril Kern's affidavit, delivered by him to the South African
Justice Ministry, strengthens grave suspicions that came up early
in the investigation that the money he transferred to Gilad and
Omri Sharon's Discount bank account in Tel Aviv was not really
Kern's.
Five
days to elections, 16% of voting public still undecided
Ha'aretz, January 23, 2003
Five days before the elections, as the Knesset election campaign
is entering its last furlough, a Ha'aretz poll yesterday indicated
that 16 percent of the voters have not yet decided which party
to vote for next Tuesday.
Coalition
May be Hard for Sharon to Form After Elections: Analysts
Palestine Media Center, January 23, 2003
Forming a governing coalition may be much harder for Israel’s
PM Sharon than winning the January 28 general elections, political
analysts say.
Police
raid Haifa city hall for evidence against Mitzna
Ha'aretz, January 23, 2003
Labor Party Chairman Amram Mitzna yesterday telephoned Attorney
General Elyakim Rubinstein to demand that he order the police
to complete by Sunday an investigation they began yesterday into
allegations against Mitzna of influence peddling.
US
Embassy hosts pro-marijuana party
Jerusalem Post, January 23, 2003
The Green Leaf Party leadership was hosted by the US Embassy on
Thursday to enable the embassy political staff to get to know
the party's ideas and plans if it is elected to the Knesset.
'They
kick the workers in the head until they bleed'
Ha'aretz, January 23, 2003
"Approximately one thousand Bulgarian men are living under inhumane
conditions on construction sites in Israel. They are beaten, prevented
from seeking medical help, and in the past year, have been shot
at along the Israel-Palestinian border while they worked..."
Israel
Risking Stability By Refusing Peace Talks: Mubarak
Islam Online, January 23, 2003
CAIRO, January 23 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Egypt’s
President Hosni Mubarak said Thursday, January 23, that Israel
was putting at risk the stability of the entire Middle East with
its refusal to open peace talks with the Palestinians before a
halt to violence.
Defense
Ministry head in Washington for aid talks
Jerusalem Post, January 23, 2003
WASHINGTON - Defense Ministry Director General Amos Yaron and
a delegation of senior Israeli officials arrived in Washington
Thursday for two days of talks with their US counterparts on Israel's
supplemental aid request and other bilateral matters.
IDF
sappers detonate an explosive device in the West Bank city of
Tulkarm
Jerusalem Post, January 22, 2003
Security forces remain on high alert throughout the country amid
ongoing warnings of pending attacks.
Police:
Soldiers sold sizable amount of weapons to PA
Jerusalem Post, January 23, 2003
Police officials were further quoted as saying the possibility
of the thefts being aided by higher-ranking IDF officials was
not ruled out. -- Police suspect IDF soldiers trafficked a substantial
amount of weapons to elements in the Palestinian Authority, Channel
Two News reported Wednesday night.
Hamas
keeps up pressure on Israel
Jordan Times, January 23, 2003
TEL AVIV (AFP) — The Palestinian resistance group Hamas
made good on its threat to keep up kamikaze attacks against Israel,
claiming Saturday the overnight assault on a Jewish settlement
that left two freedom fighters and a settler dead.
Envoy:
Help Arafat Attend NAM Summit
Palestine Chronicle, January 23, 2003
KUALA LUMPUR - The Palestinian authorities have requested Malaysia
to talk to the United States to pressure Israel to allow President
Yasser Arafat to travel to Malaysia to attend the 13th Non-Aligned
Movement (NAM) Summit.
Ethiopians
challenge Sharon
Middle East Times, January 17, 2003
Some 3,000 Ethiopian immigrants demonstrated on Sunday in front
of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's office here to demand their relatives
be allowed to join them in Israel despite doubts about their Jewishness.
Talks
over Saudi mega-gas deals coming to a close
MENA Report, January 23, 2003
The long-drawn-out negotiations with top oil multinationals for
Saudi Arabia's mega-gas initiatives could be nearing an end. Final
talks over Core Venture 1—the $15 billion South Ghawar Gas
Project—and CV3, the $10 billion Shaybah Project, are expected
to open before January-end, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud
Al-Faisal stated on Wednesday, January 22.
US
launches free trade talks with Morocco
MENA Report, January 23, 2003
Negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA) between the United
States and Morocco were officially launched this week. The move
sends “a powerful signal to the Muslim world” that
the SU will embrace nations willing to open their markets, stated
US Trade Representative Robert Zoellick.
US
to open an office for AAID in Djibouti
Arabic News, January 23, 2003
The White House announced yesterday that the US President George
Bush informed President of Djibouti Ismael Omar Jelle, currently
visiting the USA, that Washington will shortly open an office
for the American Agency for International Development in Djibouti.
World
Bank approves $305 million development package for Jordan
MENA Report, January 23, 2003
The World Bank’s Executive Directors have endorsed a new
business plan and a $305 million lending package aimed at fighting
poverty and unemployment in Jordan.
Saudi
Arabia to address human rights concerns through new laws
Arabic News, January 23, 2003
An official at the US based Human Rights Watch who in its recent
report of 2002 had strong criticism for Riyadh, held yesterday
talks with Saudi Arabian officials.
Muasher
criticizes Israel
Arabic News, January 23, 2003
The Jordanian foreign minister Marwan Muasher criticized statements
made by the Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon in which he rejected
any role by the so-called Quartet committee to solving the conflict
between Israel and the Palestinians.
Jordan's
king says he is determined to purchase air defense system
Jerusalem Post, January 23, 2003
AMMAN, Jordan - Jordan's King Abdullah II told a top US army commander
Thursday he intends to buy an air defense system, and his military
chief requested the United States supply it, the official Petra
news agency reported.
Fatwa
in Jordan describes magazine journalists as ''apostates''
Al-Bawaba, January 22, 2003
Jordanian clerics have issued a fatwa describing as "apostates"
journalists of a weekly magazine that published an article deemed
insulting to Prophet Mohammad, a statement said Wednesday.
BBC
strikes news-sharing deal with Al-Jazeera
Middle East Times, January 17, 2003
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) said Friday it had
struck a news-sharing deal with Al-Jazeera, the Qatar-based satellite
broadcaster that won international fame for scoops on Afghanistan
and al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.
Politics
on the rocks with a twist of religion
Asia Times, January 23, 2003
DUBAI - It is being gulped down not just for its taste, but because
it is a brew that mixes religion and politics. Across Europe and
the Middle East, new soft drinks like Zam Zam Cola, Mecca-Cola
and Star Cola are giving global brands like Coke and Pepsi the
jitters.
